Cleveland Browns Struggling To Hire Head Coach as Third Candidate Backs Out of Search

The Cleveland Browns are having a rough time replacing Kevin Stefanski, to say the least. The Browns had yet another potential candidate pull out of their head coaching search, as Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski withdrew from the search on Monday, agreeing to a new contract with the Jags. Udinski joined new Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter and Josh McDaniel in backing out of the potential opportunity in Cleveland. Not only that, but the Browns can’t even hire someone until they fulfill the NFL's Rooney Rule requirement of interviewing at least two minority and/or women candidates before hiring someone. But their top target may absolve that as they’re planning to bring in Los Angeles Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase, with the Akron Beacon Journal reporting that it’s believed to be down to Scheelhaase and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Cleveland can now bring in Scheelhaase after the Rams were eliminated from the postseason in the NFC Championship, defeated by the Seahawks. However, their two top coaches may be clashing with one another, as Dianna Russini reports that it could cause some strife passing over Schwartz, who’s interviewed twice. But frankly, the Browns need to find their guy, and quick, as the optics of the number of dropouts are sure to cause a ripple effect of concern.

Here is the full story from Browns Roundtable writer Matthew Schmidt on the concern in Cleveland.

If Schwartz was the guy, then they could’ve moved much faster, though they couldn’t actually hire him without meeting the Rooney Rule. But Schwartz has head coaching experience atop the Detroit Lions for five seasons from 2009 to 2013, where he led them to their first playoff appearance in 12 years, going 29-51 overall. Cleveland needs to get this hire right, but they also need to get it done and perhaps spend some time evaluating why it’s dragged so long and is ultimately unattractive to top suitors.